Membercamprosate (INN, BAN) (brand name Campral), or acamprosate calcium (USAN, JAN), also known as N-acetylhomotaurine or as calcium acetylhomotaurinate,[2] is a drug used for treating alcohol and benzodiazepine dependence.
Acamprosate is thought to stabilize the chemical balance in the brain that would otherwise be disrupted by alcohol withdrawal or benzodiazepine withdrawal.[3] Reports indicate that acamprosate works[clarification needed] only with a combination of attending support groups and abstinence fromalcohol.[4][5] Certain serious side effects include diarrhea, allergic reactions, irregular heartbeats, and low or high blood pressure, while less serious side effects include headaches, insomnia, and impotence.[6] Diarrhea is the most common side-effect. [7] Acamprosate should not be taken by people with kidney problems or allergies to the drug.[8]
Until it became a generic in the United States, Campral was manufactured and marketed in the United States by Forest Laboratories, while Merck KGaA markets it outside the US. It is sold as 333 mg white and odorless tablets of acamprosate calcium, which is the equivalent of 300 mg of acamprosate.[1]
